The measure, aimed at improving how drugs are tracked from production until they are purchased at a drug store, would clarify what sponsors said was confusion over the Food and Drug Administration’s authority over compounded drugs. It would also require the agency to coordinate its oversight of compounded-drug safety with states.

The compounding pharmacies could voluntarily register and come under the purview of the FDA or they stay “traditional” and remain under the oversight of state pharmacy boards.

What this legislation passed by the House on a bipartisanship basis means is best summed up by Representative DeLauro.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., criticized the legislation, saying its voluntary registration for compounding companies “is not strong enough to ensure the public safety.”